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Home , Aellopos tantalus, Ampelopsis, Apantesis phalerata, BugGuide, Callopistria floridensis, Cissus

Moths of South

Introduction We created this guide to the of South Florida in honor of National Week (July 23 -31), in the hopes of drawing attention to this often overlooked group of organisms, the moths. Moths are in the Order , which is made up of butterflies and moths. The Lepidoptera contain at least 32 superfamilies in , only one of which--the Papilonidae--contains butterflies. That means the vast majority of Lepidopteran diversity comes from moths! However, we know very little about most spe- cies in terms of their ecology or even what they eat as . We surely don't know all of the in our area. From a conservation standpoint, we need to try to learn more about this diverse group in or- der to understand our ecosystems how to protect them. So please, get out there and observe! There are many great resources available to help. Let's work together to increase our understanding of this fasci- nating group of organisms in our region, or just simply enjoy some time outside. Using this guide: This guide is by no means comprehensive, and certainly favors more conspicuous species. This means that most of the moths in this guide are large, discernable, and often during the day. We attempted to rep- resent a number of evolutionarily distinct groups, whether superfamily or family, and each group is pre- sented in taxonomic order (i.e. in order of evolutionary history). The superfamily is in all caps on the side, followed by either family or subfamily, depending on the usefulness and availability of a common name, the idea being to get people recognizing groups. If the family name is the same as the superfamily, only one is listed. Common names for each species (where available) are listed in the top left of each box fol- lowed by the scientific name in parentheses. Each box will typically have two photos; one adult and one . We also list: wingspan (useful for knowing what size you'd be looking for), host (known utilized by larvae), and range (where the species has been documented). Some moths can eat a wide vari- ety of plants, and here they are listed as "generalists", which is often an oversimplification. In this case, search links below for recorded host plants. Photo credits are listed in the back of the guide. There will often be much more information than we are able to provide, so please take advantage of the great online resources listed below for all things moths. Helpful resources: http://nationalmothweek.org/ Moth identification: Bugguide.net (great for posting photos of your unknown insects. When you find the species you’re look- ing for, click “info” in the top left to learn more) Mothphotographers.msstate.edu Butterfliesandmoths.org

Host plants: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants/search http://www.brc.ac.uk/dbif/

Moths of South Florida

Scientific name Common Name Super Family Lesser Wasp Moth (Pseudocharis minima)

46. MOTHSOWLET AND KIN

Wingspan: 30-35 mm Host plants: Cros- sopetalum spp. Range: S FL mainland and the Keys (endemic) - Tiger Moths Tiger

47. Family/ Sub- Family Photo Credits

Moths of South Florida

Abbot’s Bagworm (Oiketicus abbotii) (Atteva aurea) ERMINEMOTHS AND KIN

Wingspan: 33mm Wingspan: 18-30 mm

Host plants: Gen- Host plants: Tree of eralist Heaven (Ailanthus spp.) Range: Southeast- Range: E. North Am to ern U.S. to S. Central Am, West –

1. Indies Tropical Ermines

98.

2. 3. 99. —BAGWORM MOTHS TINEOIDEA—BAGWORM Ragweed Plume Moth (Adaina ambrosiae) Black-shaded Moth (Platynota flavedana) Wingspan: 13-17 mm Wingspan: Range: 5- TORTRICIDS Host plants: Asterace- 8.5mm ae, mainly Ragweed Host plants: Generalist (Ambrosia) Range: East Range: Across US,

West Indies

102. PLUME MOTHS MOTHS PLUME

100. 101. 103.

Pecan Carpenterworm Moth ( magnifica) Saddleback (Acharia stimulea)

Wingspan: 32-45 mm 60. Host plants: Wood bor- ers; , , , Wingspan: 26-43 mm persimmon Host plants: Generalist

Range: Southeast US Range: MA-FL, MO- - Slug CaterpillarsSlug TX 104.

CARPENTER AND LEOPARD MOTHS LEOPARD AND CARPENTER 61. 105.

Moths of South Florida ZYGAENOIDEA

Southern Flannel (Megalopyge opercularis) Grapeleaf Skeletonizer (Harrisina americana) 35. 64. Wingspan: 24-36

mm mm Wingspan: 18-28 mm Host plants: General- Host plants: Grape fo-

ist esp. and elm - liage, Redbud, Skeletonizers Leaf Flannel Moths Flannel - Range: Widespread Creeper Eastern U.S, Central Range: -, Northern America. SC-FL, AR- South America TX

65. 36 ZYGAENOIDEA

PYRALOIDEA Seagrape Borer (Hexeris enhydris) Dichogama amabilis Wingspan: ~25 mm Wingspan: 34-38 mm Host plants: Host plants: Wood Jamaican Sea Grape and

borer: - Capertree CrambidSnout Moths Pigeon Plum 15. Range: Puerto Range: Central and Rico, ,

WINGED MOTHS Soutehrn florida to - FL 97. Keys, Cuba, WINDOW

16.

Fiddlewood Leafroller (Epicorsia oedipodalis) Hyalorista taeniolalis 25. Host plants: Dev- Wingspan: 37-39 mm il’s-claw (Pisonia Host plants: Fiddle- aculeata) and Nyc- - Crambid SnoutMoths wood (Citharexylum), taginaceae Sea Grape & Pigeon Range: CA, FL, TX Crambid Snout Moths Snout Crambid - Plum (Coccoloba

spp.), Lancewood (Nectandra) RALOIDEA RALOIDEA PY

Range: , FL 41. 26.

Moths of South Florida

Coffee-loving ( ) Broom ( reversalis) PYRALOIDEA -

84 31. Wingspan: 27-34 Wingspan: 16-20 mm mm Host plants: Gener- Host plants: Wild alist Crambid Snout MothsSnout Crambid coffee, Purplestem Range: Widespread Beggarticks, Crambid Snout Moths Crambid Snout (CA-ME, FL-Puerto - Range: Widespread Rico) (FL-AZ, NY-IL)

85. 32. PYRALOIDEA

Satin White Moth (Palpita flegia) Dot-lined White (Artace cribrarius) TENTMOTHS CATEPILLARS ANDLAPPET

50. Wingspan: 25-62 mm

Host plants: Yel- Host plants: Oaks, low Oleander Cherries , and Range: FL-TX Range: Southeast Crambid Snout Moths Moths Crambid Snout - 106. US PYRALOIDEA 51.

107.

Io Moth (Automeris io) Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) BOMBYCOIDE 44. Wingspan: 100-150 mm

Wingspan: 50-80 Host plants: General- mm. Males yellow. ist. Broad-leaved trees and shrubs

Host plants: Gener- - GiantSilkworms

Buck and Io Moths Io and Buck alist. Various Range: Southern U.S -

DE woody plants Range: Eastern two- thirds of U.S. 88.

45. 89. BOMBYCOI

Moths of South Florida

BOMBYCOI Consular Oak Worm (Anisota consularis) Royal Walnut Moth (Citheronia regalis)

Wingspan: 32-66 56. mm; female larger Wingspan: 50-80 than male mm Host plants: Oaks Hostplants: Gener- DE - Range: Coastal alist: Various woody RoyalMoths Royal Moths Royal - 13. south plants

DE through Florida, west along the Gulf Range: Eastern two- thirds of U.S.

Coast to .

14. 57.

BOMBYCOI BOMBYCOI

Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) Tantalus Moth ( tantalus)

Wingspan: 45-57 mm Wingspan: 80-174 Host plants: mm; female larger esp. Seven year apple than male DE

(Casasia clusiifolia) - Sphinx Moths Sphinx Royal Moths Royal

- Host plants: Gener-

DE alist: Broadleaf trees Range: FL, MI, NY and shrubs. 42. Range: Eastern U.S,

4. ,

BOMBYCOI 43 5.

Tetrio Sphinx (Pseudosphinx tetrio) Nessus Sphinx ( ) BOMBYCOI Wingspan: 127-140 mm Wingspan: 37-55 mm

Host plants: Plants in Host plants: , family esp. grape, and cayenne pep- Frangipani () per DE - Sphinx Sphinx Moths Range: FL, LA, TX, Range: Widespread Moths Sphinx -

DE Caribbean (Eastern North America)

91.

BOMBYCOI 92. 94.

Moths of South Florida

Virginia Creeper Sphinx ( myron) Pluto Sphinx ( pluto) BOMBYCOI Wingspan: 53-65 mm

Wingspan: 45-65 mm Host plants: Firebush Host plants: (Hamelia spp.), Snow- berry ( spp.), Peppervine, Viburnum, DE

Erythroxylon spp. - Sphinx Moths Sphinx

Sphinx Sphinx Moths grape, and Virginia - Range: Cent. Am. MX, DE Creeper 95. Range: Eastern and central North America 108.

BOMBYCOI 96. 109. BOMBYCOI Ello Sphinx (Erinnyis ello) Gaudy Sphinx Moth ( labruscae)

19. Wingspan: 75-85 29. mm Wingspan: 108-112 Host plants: mm

Euphorbiaceae, Host plants: Grapes, DE Sphinx Sphinx Moths - - Myrtaceae, Sapota- Possum grape Moths Sphinx DE ceae in FL ( spp.) Range: Southern Range: Widespread , CA, FL, (TX– )

TX BOMBYCOI 20. 30.

Modest Sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta) Streaked Sphinx ( strigilis) BOMBYCOI 72.

68

Wingspan: 76-120 Wingspan: 108- mm 130 mm

Host plants: DE Host plants: - Sphinx Moths Sphinx Sphinx Sphinx Moths - Salicaceae, willows Anacardiaceae DE in S. FL esp. Brazilian Pepper Range: Widespread in North America Range: FL-TX, and New World tropics 69. BOMBYCOI 73.

Moths of South Florida BOMBYCOI Rustic Sphinx (Manduca rustica) Laurel Sphinx ()

58. Wingspan: 75-103 mm

Host plant: Ash, fringe-tree, Wingspan: 87-150mm lilac, privet, and plants in the

Host plants: General- Oleaceae. Likely Ligustrum DE -

ist (privet) and (pop- Moths Sphinx Sphinx Sphinx Moths

- ash) in S. FL. Range: ME to TX and 66. DE FL, Southwestern Range: Eastern North U.S., , America Mexico to Argenti-

na.

59.

BOMBYCOI 67.

Avocado Spanworm (Epimecis detexta) White-Tipped Black Moth ( chephise)

Wingspan: 30-35 GEOMETRID MOTHS GEOMETRID

Host plants: Avo- mm cado Host plants: Gen- Range: Caribbean/ eralist Gulf Coast (FL- Range: Florida, DR) 80. southern Great 8. Plains, south to Paraguay, West Indies 81.

MOTHS GEOMETRID

Southern Emerald (Synchlora frondaria ) Heterocampa astarte ANDMOTHSKIN OWLET 62. 37.

Wingspan: 15 mm

Range: FL, NC, SC Host plants: Generalists (sunflower, Bidens,

Rudbeckia) - MothsProminent Range: Southern USA, Central and 38. South America; Greater & Lesser 63. Antilles MOTHS GEOMETRID

Moths of South Florida

Hieroglyphic Moth (Diphthera festiva) Harnessed Tiger ( phalerata) MOTHSMothsOWLET ANDTiger KIN–

39. 74. Wingspan: 37-48 Wingspan: 30-42 mm mm

Host plants: Gener- Host plants: , alist cord grass Range: AZ, TX-FL- ( spp.), corn, NC, West Indies, dandelion, plantain Mexico- South Range: Ontario, 75. America Quebec, and to Florida, west to 40. Texas, north to

OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Nolid Moths OWLET MOTHS KIN– Nolid AND South Dakota

Edward’s Wasp ( edwardsii) Oleander Moth (Syntomeida epilais) MOTHSOWLET Moths AND Tiger KIN–

86. 48.

Wingspan: 43 mm Host plants: Several Apocynaceae, esp. Oleander Wingspan: 30-40 Range: MS, FL, SC, 87. mm TX Host plants: Figs ( spp.)

Range: FL, GA, AZ 49. OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Tiger AND OWLET Moths MOTHS

Yellow Banded Wasp Moth (Syntomeida ipomoeae)

Lesser Wasp Moth (Pseudocharis minima) MOTHSMothsOWLET ANDTiger KIN–

Wingspan: 43 mm 46. Host plants: Convolvu- laceae esp. Morning Wingspan: 30-35 Glory (Ipomoea spp.) mm Range: FL,GA Host plants: Cros- sopetalum spp. Range: S FL main- land and the Keys 82. (endemic)

83. 47.

OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Tiger AND OWLET Moths MOTHS

Moths of South Florida

Faithful Beauty (Composia fidelissima) Florida Tussock (Halysidota cinctipes) MOTHSMothsOWLET ANDTiger KIN–

21.

Wingspan: 48-64 mm Host plants: Mul- 27. tiple Apocynaceae 28. Host plants: Florida and Fabaceae Trema (Trema micran- (Peas) tha) Range: West Range: Caribbean, Indies, FL AZ, CA, FL, TX

OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Tiger AND OWLET Moths MOTHS 22.

Echo Moth (Seirarctia echo) Virginia Tiger Moth ( virginica) OWLET MOTHSOWLET Moths AND Tiger KIN–

Wingspan: 32-52 mm Host plants: Generalist (low -growing plants, woody shrubs, trees) 17. Range: Widespread in North Host plants: Coon- America 78. tie, Cabbage Palmet- to, Crotons, Lupine, Oaks, Persimmon, other woody plants 79.

18. Range: FL, GA OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Tiger AND OWLET Moths MOTHS

Rattlebox Moth () Bronzy Macrochilo MOTHSOWLET AND KIN

52. Wingspan: 30-45 mm Wingspan: 19-23 mm Host plants: Rattle- Range: Southern U.S box, bush-clover, elm, (AZ-FL) cherry, fireweed, lu-

pine, sweet gale Range: Widespread - Eastern U.S, Central Litter Moths America, Northern 76. South America

53. 77. OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Tiger AND OWLET Moths MOTHS

Moths of South Florida OWLET MOTHSOWLET ANDFruit KIN– Gonodonta bidens Fruit Piercer (Gonodonta nutrix)

33. Wingspan: 36-40 11. mm Wingspan: 48-64 mm

Piercing Piercing Moths Host plants: Pond - Range: FL, TX apple, American Brunfelsia, and to- matoes Range: Tropical, -

FL, Mexico- PiercingMoths Paraguay

12. 34.

OWLET MOTHSOWLET AND Eribinae KIN– OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Fruit AND OWLET MOTHS Ernestine's Moth () Black Witch (Ascalapha odorata)

Wingspan: 90-150 mm Host plants: Many Fabaceae (Peas) Range: Widespread Range: Caribbean, (AZ-FL-ON-IA, W. 9. South America, Indies) Canada, Mexico, FL, HI

90. 10. OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– AND OWLET MOTHS Regal Cydosia (Cydosia nobilitella) Florida Fern Moth ( floridensis) OWLET MOTHS AND KIN– Owlet MothsOwletAND MOTHSKIN– OWLET

23. Wingspan: < 20 mm. Wingspan: 25-30 mm Host plants: West Indian Host plants: Most Fern pinkroot Species Range: Southern U.S, Range: Mexico-South 54. , Antilles America. SC-FL, AR- TX

55. 24. OWLET MOTHS AND OWLET MOTHS KIN– AND Owlet Moths

Moths of South Florida

Velvet Armyworm ( latifascia) Armyworm () MothsANDOwletMOTHSKIN– OWLET

Wingspan: 42 mm Wingspan: 32-44 mm Host plants: Generalist Host plants: Generalist Range: Southern U.S– Range: Widespread Central America (CA-)

6. 70.

71. 7. OWLET MOTHS AND OWLET MOTHS KIN– Owlet AND Moths

Moths of South Florida

References 31. M. Palhof 62. J. Possley/FTBG 93. Metrioptera 1. JC Jones 32. J. Possley/FTBG 63. K. Finch 94. Cotinis 2. J. Possley/FTBG 33. A. Cavosie 64. S. McCann 95. C. Barrentine 3. D. Cadle 34. J. Lange/FTBG 65. J. Armstrong 96. GValHart 4. J. Possley/FTBG 35. J. Possley/FTBG 66. J. Possley/FTBG 97. S. Ausubel 5. N. Glickman 36. M. Quinn 67. Crgillette77 98. J. Trahan 6. Stark 37. D. Riley 68. T. Murray 99. C. Hartley 7. J. Possley/FTBG 38. J. Possley/FTBG 69. J. Stiefel 100.J. Rosenfeld 8. J. Possley/FTBG 39. J. Lange/FTBG 70. R. Zimlich 101.J. Hatfield 9. M. Heiman 40. J. Possley/FTBG 71. T. Villalobos 102.C. Wolf 10. J. Rose 41. J. Possley/FTBG 72. M. Deep 103.G. Montgomery 11. A. Chin-Lee 42. K. Warnecke 73. S. Wright/FTBG 104.G. Goss 12. A. Dawson/FTBG 43. H. Nendick-Mason 74. Oliver 105.M. Bertone 13. J. Smith 44. C. Wolf 75. J. Possley/FTBG 106.K. Childs 14. J. Possley/FTBG 45. S. Wright/FTBG 76. J. Possley/FTBG 107.Creuzy 15. TedCenter 46. J. Rivera/FTBG 77. Canadian National 108.A. Chin-Lee Collection 16. J. Possley/FTBG 47. A. Chin-Lee 109.A. Chin-Lee 78. J. Possley/FTBG 17. J. Possley/FTBG 48. M. Drummond 79. J. Possley/FTBG 18. Unknown 49. J. Possley/FTBG 80. J. Possley/FTBG 19. M. Heiman 50. Alan Chin-Lee 81. A. Chin-Lee 20. J. Possley/FTBG 51. Ken Setzer/FTBG 82. S. Woodmansee 21. A. Chin-Lee 52. J. Rivera/FTBG 83. J. Possley/FTBG 22. J. Possley/FTBG 53. J. Possley/FTBG 84. M. Edmonds 23. J. Rapp 54. J. Lange/FTBG 85. M.White 24. J. Possley/FTBG 55. R. Pilla 86. R. Núñez 25. G. Gross 56. B. Woodmansee 87. A. Chin-Lee 26. J. Possley/FTBG 57. B. Woodmansee 88. Ilona L. 27. A. Chin-Lee 58. M. Bummermann 89. M. Deep 28. M. Messer 59. J. Possley/FTBG 90. J. Lange/FTBG 29. A. Dawson/FTBG 60. A. Tuttle 91. C. Camargo 30. Rich 61. J. Possley/FTBG 92. S. Koi